68

Never Smoke Tobacco.

Succeeding years have found him true,
Revered and honoured is his name;
While his companion lost to view
Is covered with a felon's shame.

His mother crushed beneath the blow
And broken-hearted.-sadly hied
To where the daisies thickly grow.-
Her grave is by the green hillside.

Oh! hearkening youth, abjure the glass,
Let Charley Rivers' choice be thine;
And when they would the liquor pass,
Say "Never in the sparkling wine."

NEVER SMOKE TOBACCO.

EVER smoke tobacco, boys,

Never burn the curl'd cigar :

wise;

'Gainst such things wage constant war.

Never take the filthy snuff,

Show that you have sense enough,

Good and wholesome things to use,

While the evil you refuse.

Cause not others to complain,

In the house, or street, or train,

That for self alone you care,

While with smoke you taint the air;
Be not wasteful, slothful, base,
Bring not on your friends disgrace,
Flee from wicked company,
Choose the path of purity.

Would you rise to manhood true,
Virtue prize, and truth pursue;
As yourself your neighbour love,
Give your heart to God above.
Smoke not, drink not, snuff not, boys,
Ways like these will kill your joys;
Cheat not, swear not, nor begin
Gambling habits, full of sin.

Speech of a Band of Hope Boy. 69

SPEECH OF A BAND OF HOPE BOY.

A. J. GLASSPOOL.

MR. CHAIRMAN, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I have been requested by our Secretary to address a few words to you this evening, and though I feel myself quite unable to speak on the important subject of total abstinence, I am sure you will kindly grant me your indulgence, while I endeavour to give you a few reasons why we consider total abstinence safer and better than even moderate drinking.

I need not occupy any of your time in speaking on the terrible evils resulting from indulgence in the intoxicating cup; those evils are too numerous to mention and they are around us on every hand.

It is a common expression among our judges that much of the crime of the country is caused through alcoholic liquors, and our magistrates are constantly deploring the numerous cases of drunkenness brought before them, while the black hearse is continually carrying to the grave some poor creature who through the drink has been brought to an early death.

That the evil exists is certain, even the publicans themselves admit it, and some of them are anxious to lessen the evil. What shall be done? What can be done? Many have been the schemes proposed and tried. Some have tried by a strict watch upon the public-house to lessen the evil, but the number of drunken men in our streets is as numerous as ever. Some suggest better homes for the working-classes and good education for the children, but the evil of intoxication does not only exist among the poor and the ignorant, it exists to an alarming extent among the educated and the rich. Many and various have been the attempts to rid our land of this great evil but all have failed, and ladies and gentlemen, why have they failed?

They have failed because the drink itself was allowed to exist, and the public-houses still permitted to offer their tempting snares to the weak and the foolish. There are many

70

Speech of a Band of Hope Boy.

who believe that the only way to cure the evil is to take away the cause, for while the cause continues the evil will continue also.

You are aware, Mr. Chairman, that it is the opinion of very many enlightened men, that the only safe and certain cure for the evil of drunkenness is total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks.

This is the practice that the children of our numerous Bands of Hope carry out and upon which they thrive so well.

Ladies and gentlemen. You will, I am sure, forgive me when I say that I believe it is quite possible for all persons to adopt our practice. It cannot be denied that total abstainers enjoy the best of health, and are able to do the hardest work, and to endure all the changes of climate-without suffering even so much as those who drink. If you look to the Arctic Regions we see six brave men in the late expedition who in the very palace of the Ice Monarch carried out our practice, and were able to do more work and suffer more hardships than those who drank.

If we look to Africa, we see the late Dr. Livingstone toiling among the heathen, and enduring all the dangers and troubles of his journeys without the aid of the drink.

We see Sir Henry Havelock in India fighting as few soldiers have ever fought, and still holding fast to the pledge. And many more might be mentioned, but time is short. But, ladies and gentlemen, perhaps you will say, What about the doctors? Can we keep our pledge in times of sickness? Shall we not die earlier, and suffer more?

I would remind you that the Temperance Hospital is now making great way in the opinion of medical men. All diseases are treated and cured without the use of alcohol in any form whatever. I have but to mention the names of Sir Henry Thompson, Dr. Richardson, and Dr. Edmunds as a sufficient guarantee that the best of medical men are on our side.

Among statesmen we have many firm adherents to our cause. I will mention but two-John Bright, the friend of free trade, and Samuel Plimsoll, the sailor's champion.

Among Ministers of all denominations, we have many who practise total abstinence, and are its warmest advocates. Allow me to mention the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rev. Newman Hall, and the Rev. J. P. Chown. Surely, ladies and gentlemen, the example of such men can be followed with safety and wisdom.

To one fact I am certain you will give your agreement— the drink is quite unnecessary for the children. The little ones are stronger, healthier, and happier without it.

Will you then allow your children to become members of the Band of Hope? Let them join our ranks, and in future years they will be ever thankful that you thus placed in their hands a shield to guard them against one of the greatest evils of the day.

I

BE KIND.

WOULD not hurt a living thing,
However weak or small;

The beasts that graze, the birds that sing,
Our Father made them all,
Without whose notice, we have read,
A sparrow cannot fall.

'Twas but the other day

I met a thoughtless boy
Bearing a pretty nest away;

It seemed to give him joy;
But oh! I told him it was wrong
To rob the little feathered throng.

I passed another by ;

It seemed a saddening thing
To see him seize the butterfly
And tear away its wing,
As if devoid of feeling quite;

I'm sure that this could not be right.

The patient horse and dog,

So faithful, fond and true,

And e'en the little leaping frog,
Are oft abuséd, too,

By thoughtless men and boys who seem
Of others' comfort not to dream.

72 "Drink has Killed my braw Laddie."

Yet surely in our breast

A kindlier thought should dwell,
For 'twas our blessed Lord's request
To use His creatures well;
And in His holy book we find

A blessing given to the kind.

“DRINK HAS KILLED MY BRAW

LADDIE AT LAST."

A. L. WESTCOMB■.

HEY lifted the coffin and bore it away,

Yound the door,

His coffin whose arm should have now been the stay
Of the widow, his mother no more.

Then a burst of the anguish she could not control,
From the lips of the stricken one pass'd,-

"Oh, if I but ken't it was weel wi' his soul!
Drink has killed my braw laddie at last!"

Poor heart-broken mourner, what whisper of peace
Can reach to the depth of despair?

Who can point to the land where all sorrow shall cease,
When she feels that he will not be there ?

For a horror of darkness, far deeper than night,
O'er the fate of her dear one is cast,

Since the demon of Drink, in his pitiless might,
Has killed her braw laddie at last.

And he was so bonnie, his blue eyes' glad beams
Her toils and her cares would beguile,

And his smile was so sweet in his babyhood's dreams,
Sure he learned from the angels that smile.

How little she thought, as she smoothed his soft hair,
And its rings round her fingers she pass'd,

That the Spirit which spares not the strong and the fair,
Would kill her braw laddie at last!

Oh! if in those innocent days he had died,
As the primroses die in the spring,

A vision of peace in her heart would abide,
For death had been robbed of its sting.

She had thought of him safe from temptation's fierce strife
In the haven of bliss anchored fast;

But now she looks back on his sin-blighted life ;—
Drink has killed her braw laddie at last.